Packing extractor

ABSTRACT

A tool for extracting packing from a gland which comprises a handle with a pointed rod extending therefrom. The rod is curved in such a manner as to overlie a shaft and has an angular offset permitting the point to be more easily driven into the packing.

United States Patent Bushinsky Jan. 21, 1975 [54] PACKING EXTRACTOR1,202,120 10/1916 Stuckel 294/6l x 7 1 1 Inventor: George Bushinsky, 372Masarik 5:533:22? 5113313 filiiffiiiji::iijiiiijiiiiijiijii3127f? Ave',Stratford Com 06497 3,162,475 l2/l964 Van Allen 204 111 x [22] Filed:Nov. 12, 1973 Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith [21] Appl 414301Assistant Examiner-Roscoe V. Parker Attorney, Agent, or FirmBuckles andBramble-1t [52] US. Cl 8l/8.l [51] Int. Cl B25b 27/00 [57] ABSTRACT [58]Field of Search 8l/8.l, 3 R, 3.49;

30/1645; 29/278; 294/61 A tool for extracting packmg from a gland whichcomprises a handle with a pointed rod extending there- [56] ReferencesCited from. The rod is curved in such a manner as to overlie a shaft andhas an angular offset permitting the point 931 718 l PATENTS 81/8 1 tobe more easily driven into the packing.

a es 1,013,067 12/1911 Rund .1 294/61 X 2 Claims, 6 Drawing FiguresPATENTED JAN 2 1 I975 KNN PACKING EXTRACTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe packing in a stuffing box must be changed at periodic intervals asleakage occurs around the shaft. A number of tools have been devised forremoving the old packing. Many of these tools employ a spiral or wormconstruction to engage the packing. Tools of this type are illustratedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 118,823 of Smade, 919,808 of Bales, 931,718 of Bales,and 1,858,176 of Webb. Other types of tools employ a simple pick at theend of a straight shaft. Tools of this general type are disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 118,823 of Smade, 532,557 of Hoffman, and 2,207,661 ofDugan. Many of the tools in accordance with the prior art are relativelycomplex and are somewhat difficult to use. One reason for this is thatthe space around the shaft is limited and difficult to enter.Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea packing extractor of simplified construction which can be easilymanipulated by one hand of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, thereis provided a tool for removing packing from a packing gland whichcomprises a handle and an elongated rod extending from the handle. Therod terminates in a point. It has a straight portion adjacent thehandle, a first downward curve at the end of the straight portion, anupward second curve spaced from the first curve, and a third downwardcurve adjacent the point. The rod also has an offset angle intermediatethe first and third curves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top view of a toolconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the tool of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4-6 form a sequence illustrating the use of the tool in removingpacking.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The tool of this invention isillustrated in FIGS. l-3. It comprises a handle 10, similar to that usedin a common screwdriver, and a pointed rod 12 extending therefrom. Therod is curved in such a fashion as to be easily inserted into a packinggland around a shaft to readily engage the packing and, by a simpletwisting motion, to remove the packing from the gland.

The rod 12 includes a straight portion 14 adjacent the handle and afirst downward curve 16 at the end of the straight portion. Referring toFIG. 2, it will be noted that a second upward curve 18 is providedfurther along the rod, followed by a third downward curve 20 adjacentthe point. In the illustrated version, the point itself defines anupward curve 22. This final curve, however, is optional and is notrequired in all tools. Finally, an important feature of the tool of thisinvention is the offset angle 24 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The angle Aformed by the offset 24 and illustrated in FIG. 3 may be variedsomewhat, however, the preferred angle is 15.

The use of the tool of this invention is best illustrated in FIGS. 4-6,which illustrate a packing gland 26, a shaft 28, and packing 30. Thetool is first inserted into the gland as illustrated in FIG. 4. Due tothe uniquely curved shape of the rod 12, it can be inserted from theside of the gland while readily encircling shaft 28. Furthermore, theoffset 24 causes the point of the tool to lie at an angle to the packing30. As a result, the user can thrust the point into the packing by asimple forward motion of the hand. After so engaging the packing, thehandle is simply twisted as illustrated in FIG. 5 and the curvature ofthe point carries the packing along the shaft until it emerges from thegland as shown in FIG. 6.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be made in this invention. However, as an illustrativeexample of a tool constructed in accordance therewith, in oneembodiment,.

the straight portion 14 has a length from the end of the handle ofapproximately 4 inches and the angle B at 16 is 30. The upward curve at18 has a 2 inches radius and the downward curve 20 has a inch radius.The final optional upward curve 22 has a 3 inches radius. Othervariations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in theart. Accordingly, the foregoing description is to be construed asillustrative only, rather than limiting. This invention is limited onlyby the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tool for removing packing from a packing gland which comprises: ahandle; and an elongated rod extending from said handle and terminatingin a point, siad rood having a straight portion adjacent said handle, afirst downward curve at the end of said straight portion, an upwardsecond curve spaced from said first curve, a third downward curveadjacent said point, an upward fourth curve defined by said point, andan offset angle intermediate said first and third curves.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein said offset angle is substantially 15from the plane of said first curve.

1. A tool for removing packing from a packing gland which comprises: ahandle; and an elongated rod extending from said handle and terminatingin a point, siad rood having a straight portion adjacent said handle, afirst downward curve at the end of said straight portion, an upwardsecond curve spaced from said first curve, a third downward curveadjacent said point, an upward fourth curve defined by said point, andan offset angle intermediate said first and third curves.
 2. The tool ofclaim 1 wherein said offset angle is substantially 15* from the plane ofsaid first curve.